Three of Great Britain's medal hopes moved serenely through their heats on the opening day of action in the Olympic Stadium, with even their relatively straightforward progression provoking a wild response.

Yamilé Aldama qualified for the women's triple jump final with her first jump, Christine Ohuruogu began her bid to defend her Olympic 400m title with the fourth fastest qualifying time and Dai Greene, the 400m hurdles world champion, moved through his heat with ease.

Along with Ohuruogu, who grew up a matter of minutes from this stadium, Shana Cox and Lee McConnell also qualified for Saturday's semi-finals of the 400m.

Aldama, who turns 40 later this month and had heavy strapping on the shoulder she injured in Rome in May, qualified for the final with her opening jump of 14.45m and said she had never experienced an atmosphere like it for the qualifying round of a major championships. "It's my fifth Olympic Games. I've never experienced a crowd like this. I don't mean they've been empty before, but not like this," said Aldama, who has previously competed for her native Cuba and Sudan but has lived in Britain for more than a decade and is married to a Scot.

Aldama had an extra incentive to make sure she reached the final – her 71-year-old mother, Modesta, has left Cuba for the first time to watch her perform in the final. "I wasn't running as fast due to the wind changing, so I had to get it right on the first jump," she added.

Greene qualified fourth fastest overall, with the world No1, Javier Culson, of Puerto Rico quickest in 48.33. After running 48.98 in lane one as he eased over the line, Greene said: "It was relatively easy. I struggle to get up for the heats usually so I just had to make sure I qualified as winner of my heat." Greene's training partner Jack Green and the European champion, Rhys Williams, also qualified for the next round of the 400m hurdles. "The times here are quick. I was so inspired to be going out enough to be in the next round," said Williams, who ran a season's best time of 49.17.

Britain's Alex Smith made the final of the hammer, but thought he was destined to miss out after finishing 10th in the first qualifying pool. "It was just such a brilliant experience being out there, though I could have done better," Smith said. "But it was my first major championships and I am proud of what I've done. I went over to speak to my coach and I couldn't hear what he was saying because everyone was cheering me."

Only one man threw further than Smith in the second pool, meaning his best throw of 74.71m took him into the final as the 11th of 12 qualifiers.

But there was disappointment for Carl Mysercough in the shot put. Given the British Olympic Association's high profile campaign to retain its lifetime ban for those suspended for doping offences, there was a certain irony to the fact that someone who served a two-year suspension starting in 1999 was the first homegrown athlete to appear in the new £428m stadium. He could only finish 29th in qualifying, throwing 18.95m. "I felt wonderful out there, then each throw just something slightly went wrong each time. I just didn't get one together, it's very frustrating," he said. "I am massively disappointed because I was in great shape."

Stuart Stokes bowed out of the 3,000m steeplechase after finishing 12th in his heat. Despite being on track for a personal best with five laps to go, the teacher said he could feel his rivals running away from him and said it marked a good point to hang up his spikes.

"But I've got no complaints, no regrets. I am going to walk off with my head held high. It's a great climax to a lot of hard work, it's probably going to be the last time I put on my spikes. I am 35, have a wife, two kids and am a full-time teacher."